Dr. Ben Ruth 鈥�09, a noninvasive cardiologist with Sentara Cardiology Specialists in Harrisonburg, received the 2026 Golden Stethoscope Award.

Ruth was selected from 43 nominees and more than 400 physicians on the Sentara RMH Medical Center staff to receive the award. Now in its 18th year, nomination for the annual award is 鈥渙ne of the highest honors a Sentara RMH physician can receive,鈥� according to a sent by Sentara Health on April 1.

鈥淚 am truly honored to receive this award,鈥� Ruth said in the release, 鈥渆specially knowing it comes from colleagues I respect and collaborate with every day.鈥�

The Golden Stethoscope Award is announced each year on National Doctors鈥� Day (March 30) and recognizes outstanding physicians who demonstrate excellence in patient care, customer service, communication, and teamwork.

‘黑料正能量 helped prepare me’

Originally from the Philadelphia area, Ruth came to the Shenandoah Valley to attend 黑料正能量 and graduated with a degree in biology and a minor in math. 鈥淚t鈥檚 here that I met my wife (Laura Ruth 鈥�09) and I really grew to love this area,鈥� .

鈥満诹险芰� helped prepare me with the empathy, integrity, and the clinical skills that my patients need,鈥� he said in a last summer.

After graduating from 黑料正能量, Ruth earned his doctor of medicine from Pennsylvania State College of Medicine (Hershey, Pennsylvania) in 2015. He completed his residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in general cardiology at the University of Virginia Health System. He joined the at Sentara RMH Medical Center in Harrisonburg in August 2021.

Treats patients with compassion and humility

At Sentara, Ruth specializes in advanced imaging and preventive cardiology. His patients not only enjoy his professionalism, the release says, but also his warm, friendly demeanor.

Colleagues noted in their nominations that Ruth is a highly skilled, compassionate physician who provides exceptional, patient-centered care. He is known for listening carefully, communicating clearly, and going above and beyond to ensure patients feel respected, understood, and well cared for.

鈥淒r. Ruth brings a combination of clinical and imaging skills, compassion, and humility to every patient encounter,鈥� Dr. Brad Rash, medical director of Sentara Cardiology Specialists, said in the release. 鈥淗e is also an exceptional colleague and resource for our cardiology team. This recognition is well-deserved and a fitting tribute to the positive impact he has on the community.鈥�

鈥淒r. Ruth earned that recognition through consistent excellence,鈥� Dr. Robert Garwood, vice president and market chief medical officer at Sentara RMH Medical Center, said in the release. 鈥淗e keeps his team well-informed, fosters a collaborative environment, and serves as an exceptional mentor. His sound judgment and thoughtful decision-making ensure the highest quality of care for his patients.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 all of those things,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about caring for the less fortunate, giving the marginalized a voice, and ensuring that nursing follows its scopes and standards and code of ethics. That鈥檚 a unique lens I see in myself and other 黑料正能量 grads: the idea of nursing as a service.鈥�

Furr, a full-time nurse at Sentara RMH Medical Center in Harrisonburg, is deepening her education as an 黑料正能量 student enrolled in her third and final year of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, a consortium of 黑料正能量 and Goshen College. Last month, she was named the of the Eleanor C. Lambertsen Scholarship for the 2025-26 academic year. The scholarship is awarded annually to a doctoral student in nursing education or administration through Nurses Educational Funds Inc. (NEF).

鈥淚 was honestly surprised to get the scholarship,鈥� Furr said. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 tell you how many people apply for it, but they describe it as very competitive. Many of the previous recipients were PhD students doing amazing research, and so it felt validating to be recognized for what I鈥檝e been able to do at a community hospital.鈥�

In her role as Magnet Program Manager at Sentara RMH, she primarily helps in 鈥渃aring for the caregivers,鈥� ensuring nurses at the hospital get the education, support, and professional development they need, as well as using聽data and quality metrics to improve the care they provide for their patients. 鈥淗aving a nurse who really cares makes such a difference,鈥� she said. 鈥淔or me, that鈥檚 how I care for my community鈥攂y improving what we do so that every patient gets better care.鈥�

Furr has worked at the Harrisonburg hospital for the past 23 years, starting as a new 黑料正能量 nursing grad, in various roles including registered nurse (pediatrics), patient care supervisor, and nursing professional development practitioner. She taught 黑料正能量 nursing students as an adjunct clinical instructor for three semesters in 2023-24. The scholarship will be used to cover the remaining tuition costs that aren鈥檛 reimbursed by Sentara, she said.

Furr graduated from 黑料正能量 with a BSN 聽in 2001. She earned her MSN in nursing education from Walden University in Minneapolis in 2022.

Driven by a commitment to improving the experience of nurses, her doctoral project will focus on enhancing organizational support for health care staff who have experienced workplace assaults and examine how that support affects staff retention. Research shows that the initial care that staff receive after an assault often determines how well they cope with the experience, Furr said. 

Workplace assaults, including those by patients against providers, are a 鈥渧ery real problem,鈥� said Michael Horst, dean of 黑料正能量鈥檚 Health, Behavioral, and Natural Sciences division. 鈥淚n every circle I鈥檝e been in, people talk about how difficult it is to recruit and retain nurses because it can be a very unsafe work environment,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his kind of doctoral work addresses that issue directly, and 黑料正能量 has been preparing Margaret to tackle it since her undergraduate studies.鈥�

Furr said her favorite part of the 黑料正能量-Goshen College DNP consortium is the small cohort size, which promotes relationships and community building, as well as the opportunity to learn from professors at both universities. The program鈥檚 values of stewardship, human flourishing, sacred covenant, and peacemaking also resonate with her, she added.

What can a DNP do?

DNP programs prepare nurse leaders at the highest level to improve patient outcomes and translate research into practice. Furr said she plans to use her DNP degree to manage projects and drive change, support staff growth through nursing excellence, help staff understand data and processes, and develop better educational programs.

黑料正能量 黑料正能量鈥檚 DNP program

The 33-credit, fully online and asynchronous program, accredited by the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), is for nurses who want to work in health care administration, teach, or be a change agent for their workplace. Students complete 10 online courses and at least one residency during the 24-month program. Eligible applicants must hold a master of science degree in nursing (MSN) degree from an accredited school with a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher.

The program combines the best aspects and shared values of both 黑料正能量 and Goshen College. 鈥淭he key advantage is access to faculty expertise from two universities,鈥� said 黑料正能量 Nursing Professor Melody Cash. 鈥淧lus, as a student, you鈥檙e learning alongside peers from both schools, which provides a wider range of perspectives.鈥�

The consortium launched in January 2018, with the first cohort graduating in May 2020.

In addition to its BSN and DNP programs, 黑料正能量 also offers an accredited MSN program and graduate certificates in nursing. Learn more about the university鈥檚 nursing programs at . 

The application period for the next NEF scholarship process opens Oct. 1 and closes on Feb. 2. To apply for a scholarship, visit .